To the United States Senate:

On July 9, 2018, President Trump nominated federal judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh has a impressive legal background, as a graduate from Yale Law School, Staff Secretary under President Bush, and Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals. His judicial philosophy, though undeniably right-wing, would not be a radical addition to a conservative Supreme Court. He is, on paper, extremely qualified to be an Associate Justice.

Two months after his nomination to the Supreme Court, Kavanaugh was accused of having committed sexual assault while drunk in high school. His accuser, Dr. Catherine Ford, a professor from northern California, has faced intense scrutiny from members of the Republican Party over the past few weeks. They’ve argued that the allegations are fabricated by the media and the Democrats in order to preserve the vacancy. Another accuser, this time from Yale, made similar allegations recently against Kavanaugh. According to high school and college classmates, Kavanaugh was known for his proclivity to drunkenness. It’s certainly possible that Kavanaugh might not remember any assault that took place while he was intoxicated.

Dr. Ford will testify before the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee later this week, a body that has otherwise refused to investigate the allegations against Kavanaugh. The Republicans on the committee (all of whom are male) have decided to question Dr. Ford with the help of a female prosecutor whose name has not been made publicly available. It seems obvious that the Republicans intend to avoid the optics of eleven men harshly questioning a survivor of sexual assault.

It is paramount that these allegations be fully investigated by the Judiciary Committee and/or the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and that any vote is delayed until after the conclusion of the investigation. They should also seek to hear testimony from the other accuser in this case, Ms. Ramirez. The Senate has the opportunity to do the right thing and meet its constitutional obligations, instead of being a rubber stamp for the President’s nominees. Otherwise, Kavanaugh should withdraw his nomination and the President should select another nominee.

If Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court without an investigation which clears his name, the Republicans of the United States Senate will have committed a grave travesty of justice and will suffer the electoral consequences in November. Millions of women and victims of sexual assault around the country will note the decision of Republican senators in this case when considering their reelection.